A valve actuator for a valve is disclosed, including an actuator housing with a reciprocation axis and a piston configured to reciprocate within the actuator housing along the reciprocation axis. The actuator housing has a port and a chamber disposed between the piston and a portion of the actuator housing with the port for fluid communication with the port of a working fluid. A piston projection or piston recess in the chamber is moveable with the piston to reduce a flow area in the chamber that causes a reduction in speed of the piston prior to reaching a stop position.
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14. A valve for stopping and starting the flow of a process fluid, the valve comprising:
a valve housing including a flow passage;
a gate configured to slide within the housing to open or close the flow passage;
an actuator configured to use a working fluid, the actuator including:
an actuator housing having a reciprocation axis;
a piston configured to reciprocate within the actuator housing along the reciprocation axis;
a chamber disposed between the piston and a portion of the actuator housing;
a port in the actuator housing for working fluid communication with the chamber;
a variable flow area through which the working fluid flows when flowing in the chamber when the piston reciprocates;
a plug coupled to and protruding from an axial end face of the piston, wherein the plug is configured to move with the piston in the chamber and extend into the port to reduce the variable flow area as the piston moves toward a stop position; and
wherein the port is configured to supply the working fluid to the chamber to move the piston in a first direction, the port is configured to discharge the working fluid from the chamber to move the piston in a second direction opposite from the first direction.
1. A valve actuator comprising:
an actuator housing with a reciprocation axis;
a piston having a first central axis along the reciprocation axis, wherein the piston is configured to reciprocate within the actuator housing along the reciprocation axis;
a port in the actuator housing;
a chamber disposed between the piston and a portion of the actuator housing with the port for fluid communication with the port of a working fluid;
a projection having a second central axis radially offset from the first central axis of the piston, wherein the projection is disposed in the chamber, wherein the projection is coupled to the piston in a fixed position such that the projection is moveable directly with the piston to reduce a flow area in the chamber that causes a reduction in speed of the piston prior to reaching a stop position; and
wherein the port is configured to supply the working fluid to the chamber to move the piston in a first direction, the port is configured to discharge the working fluid from the chamber to move the piston in a second direction opposite from the first direction, and the projection is configured to restrict the port as the piston moves in the second direction toward the stop position.
6. A valve for stopping and starting the flow of a process fluid, the valve comprising:
a valve housing including a flow passage;
a gate configured to slide within the housing to open or close the flow passage;
an actuator configured to use a working fluid, the actuator including:
an actuator housing having a reciprocation axis;
a piston configured to move within the actuator housing along the reciprocation axis;
a chamber disposed between the piston and a portion of the actuator housing;
a port in the actuator housing for working fluid communication with the chamber;
a variable flow area through which the working fluid flows when passing between the chamber and the port when the piston moves;
a projection having a first central axis aligned with a second central axis of the port, wherein the projection is not biased by a spring, and the projection is configured to reduce the variable flow area as the piston moves toward a stop position; and
wherein the port is configured to supply the working fluid to the chamber to move the piston in a first direction, the port is configured to discharge the working fluid from the chamber to move the piston in a second direction opposite from the first direction, and the projection is configured to restrict the port as the piston moves in the second direction toward the stop position.
4. The valve actuator of
5. The valve actuator of
8. The valve of
9. The valve of
10. The valve of
11. The valve of
12. The valve of
13. The valve of
15. The valve of
16. The valve of
18. The valve of
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Not applicable.
Not applicable.
This disclosure relates generally to high-speed movement in valves as the valves open or close. More particularly, it relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for governing the movement in a valve to minimize abrupt stopping of valve components.
Valves are located and configured to control a flow of fluid through a conduit. Valves are coupled into the conduit and include various forms of obstruction to block the fluid flow through the conduit that passes through the valve. The obstruction may be moveable to regulate and manage the amount of fluid that passes through the valve. Various obstructions may include a gate, a knife, a piston, or other blocking members, and may be powered by an actuator. One type of actuator is a linear actuator. Opening and closing of the valve obstruction, particularly at high speeds, can cause internal components of the valve to contact each other and result in damage. It is sometimes desirable to slow down the actuation speed of the internal, moveable components of the valve such as the obstruction member and the actuator before these components reach a full stop. A mechanical or electrical control system may be used to slow down these components before full stop contact is achieved.
In some embodiments, a valve actuator includes an actuator housing with a reciprocation axis and a piston configured to reciprocate within the actuator housing along the reciprocation axis. The actuator housing has a port and a chamber disposed between the piston and a portion of the actuator housing with the port for fluid communication with the port of a working fluid. A piston projection or piston recess in the chamber is moveable with the piston to reduce a flow area in the chamber that causes a reduction in speed of the piston prior to reaching a stop position. The projection may be extendable into the port. The projection may be extendable into a second port in the chamber. The recess may be a reduced diameter portion of the piston. The port may intersect the chamber perpendicular to the reciprocation axis.
In some embodiments, a valve for stopping and starting the flow of a process fluid includes a valve housing including a flow passage, a gate configured to slide within the housing to open or close the flow passage, and an actuator configured to use a working fluid. The actuator may include an actuator housing having a reciprocation axis, a piston configured to move within the actuator housing along the reciprocation axis, a chamber disposed between the piston and a portion of the actuator housing, a port in the actuator housing for working fluid communication with the chamber, a variable flow area through which the working fluid flows when passing between the chamber and the port when the piston moves, and a projection or recess on the piston configured to reduce the variable flow area as the piston moves toward a stop position, and configured to allow fluid communication through the reduced variable flow area in the stop position. The port may have a flow area, and the reduced variable flow area may be less than the port flow area. The piston may include a sidewall having a cylindrical portion and a frustoconical portion axially adjacent the cylindrical portion. The projection may be a plug coupled to the piston for continuous movement with the piston. The projection may be a plug coupled to the actuator housing and configured for intermittent movement with the piston. The plug may include a tapered body, and wherein the plug is configured so that the tapered body extends into the port as the plug moves.
In some embodiments, a valve for stopping and starting the flow of a process fluid includes a valve housing including a flow passage, a gate configured to slide within the housing to open or close the flow passage, and an actuator configured to use a working fluid. The actuator may include an actuator housing having a reciprocation axis, a piston configured to reciprocate within the actuator housing along the reciprocation axis, a chamber disposed between the piston and a portion of the actuator housing, a port in the actuator housing for working fluid communication with the chamber, a variable flow area through which the working fluid flows when flowing in the chamber when the piston reciprocates, and a plug configured to move in the chamber and extend into the port to reduce the variable flow area as the piston moves toward a stop position. The port may have a flow area, and the reduced variable flow area may be less than the port flow area. The plug may be coupled to the piston for continuous reciprocation with the piston. The plug may be coupled to the actuator housing and configured for intermittent reciprocation with the piston. The reduction in the variable flow area may cause a reduction in speed of the piston prior to the plug extending into the port, and the extension of the plug into the port may further reduce the speed of the piston.
Thus, embodiments described herein include a combination of features and characteristics intended to address various shortcomings associated with certain prior devices, systems, and methods. The various features and characteristics described above, as well as others, will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description, and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
For a detailed description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description is exemplary of certain embodiments of the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant to be exemplary of that embodiment, and is not intended to suggest in any way that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and components disclosed herein may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form, and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In some of the figures, in order to improve clarity and conciseness, one or more components or aspects of a component may be omitted or may not have reference numerals identifying the features or components. In addition, within the specification, including the drawings, like or identical reference numerals may be used to identify common or similar elements.
As used herein, including in the claims, the following definitions and ideas will apply:
The terms “including” and “comprising,” as well as derivations of these, are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . ” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” means either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first component couples or is coupled to a second component, the connection between the components may be through a direct engagement of the two components, or through an indirect connection that is accomplished via other intermediate components, devices and/or connections. The recitation “based on” means “based at least in part on.” Therefore, if X is based on Y, then X may be based on Y and any number of other factors. The word “or” is used in an inclusive manner. For example, “A or B” means any of the following: “A” alone, “B” alone, or both “A” and “B.”
In addition, the terms “axial” and “axially” generally mean along or parallel to a given axis, while the terms “radial” and “radially” generally mean perpendicular to the axis. For instance, an axial distance refers to a distance measured along or parallel to a given axis, and a radial distance means a distance measured perpendicular to the axis. Furthermore, any reference to a relative direction or relative position is made for purpose of clarity, with examples including “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “upward,” “down,” “lower,” “clockwise,” “left,” “leftward,” “right” “right-hand,” “down”, and “lower.” For example, a relative direction or a relative position of an object or feature may pertain to the orientation as shown in a figure or as described. If the object or feature were viewed from another orientation or were implemented in another orientation, it may be appropriate to describe the direction or position using an alternate term.
This disclosure presents various embodiments of an actuator configured to control the opening and closing speeds of various valves before the valve comes to a fully stopped position. Exemplary valves include gate valves, ball valves, and hydraulic piston valves. In the disclosed embodiments, the actuator may include a piston or other drive member driven in at least one direction by a working fluid. The actuator includes a fluid flow area that is configured, during operation of the valve, to restrict the fluid flow area through which the working fluid flows. The restriction causes the speed at which the working fluid exits from the actuator to be lessened or slowed, thereby causing the piston or other drive member to be slowed.
Referring to
Gate 70 is held between valve seats 58 and includes a through-passage 72, a blocking portion 74, and a stem coupling portion 76 that couples to valve stem 80. Valve stem 80 extends from gate 70 through bonnet 60 along an actuation axis 81. In
Valve actuator 100 includes an actuator housing 102 extending away from bonnet 60 along the shared axis 81, a fluid port 116, a piston 130 configured for reciprocation within housing 102, and a plug or obstruction 150 configured to reciprocate as a result of the reciprocation of the piston and configured to variably block or obstruct port 116.
Housing 102 includes tubular wall 104 that extends from a proximal end 105 adjacent bonnet 60 to a distal end 106 with an inner surface 107. Housing 102 also includes a cap 110 at distal end 106. A shoulder 108 is positioned along surface 107 between ends 105, 106, facing the end 106 such that inner surface 107 has a larger diameter at distal end 106. In this embodiment, proximal end 105 is directly attached to an upper end of bonnet 60 and shoulder 108 is closer to housing end 106 than to housing end 105. Cap 110 seals the distal end 106 of wall 104, forming a head portion of housing 102. Cap 110 includes an internal end surface 112, an external end surface 114 separated from surface 112 along axis 81, and a through-hole 115 extending through the surfaces 112, 114 and centered on axis 81. Alternatively, the upward travel of stem 80 and gate 70 can be stopped or limited by surface 112 rather than or in addition to shoulder.
Continuing to reference
The location of piston 130 within housing 102 defines two chambers 170, 175 having variable volumes. A proximal chamber 170 is located between bonnet 60 and piston proximal end 132. A distal chamber 175 is located between piston distal end 133 and cap internal surface 112. A resilient member, which in this embodiment is a compression spring 178, is disposed within chamber 170 extending between bonnet 60 and piston 130 to bias piston 130 away from valve body 50, which biases gate 70 to the closed position. A vent 182 provides fluid communication into chamber 170 to allow air, ambient fluid, or another fluid to enter and exit as piston 130 moves. Vent 182 extends through wall 104.
Port 116 extends through the surfaces 112, 114 of cap 110 along a port axis 117 parallel to actuation axis 81. In other embodiments, port 116 and port axis 117 are offset from or not parallel to actuation axis 81. As best shown in
Referring again to
Referring again to
In certain embodiments, initially, port flow area 118 is smaller than cylindrical flow area 184, as shown in the valve open condition of
The blockage of port 116 and resulting stoppage of fluid flow first slows and ultimately stops the upward movement of piston 130. In some embodiments, the stoppage of piston 130 is augmented by a trapped portion of the working fluid held within a residual pocket of chamber 175. Furthermore, the stop-shoulder 64 in bonnet 60 and a shoulder on stem 80 may assist or cause the stopping of piston 130, stem 80, and gate 70. In some embodiments, other movement limiting features in valve 45 may assist with stopping piston 130. With actuator 100, the stopping of piston 130, stem 80, and gate 70 is smoother or less abrupt than if port 116 was not variably restricted, or no fluid was trapped. In this manner, the fluid flow path along the areas 184, 118 is variable or adjustable such that the volumetric flow rate along this flow path is correspondingly variable or adjustable to provide fluid dampening of the speed of piston 130.
The opening of valve 45 is driven by working fluid pushing on plug 150 and eventually pushing on piston 130. In some embodiments, plug 150 does not entirely restrict port 116 when the valve is closed. Rather, plug 150 leaves a clearance for fluid flow when seated within port 116. The clearance provides a path for returning fluid to immediately pressurize both plug 150 and piston 130, providing a greater initial force due to the larger, combined surface area that promptly experiences the renewed pressure.
The partial view of
Housing 202 includes a side wall 204, a head portion 206, and the port 116 extending through head portion 206 parallel to axis 81 (or non-parallel in some embodiments). Piston 130 is disposed within housing 202 and configured for reciprocation. Piston 130 is coupled to a valve stem 80 as previously described regarding valve 45 and actuator 100. Piston 130 lacks a second stem 142 extending opposite valve stem 80 and head portion 206 lacks a through-hole 115 (
The partial view of
Housing 202 includes a side wall 204, a head portion 206, and the port 116 extending through head portion 206 parallel to axis 81 (or non-parallel in some embodiments). Piston 130 is disposed within housing 202 and configured for reciprocation along axis 81. Piston 130 is coupled to a valve stem 80 as previously described. Plug 240 includes a cylindrical head 246 and a frustoconical body 248 that extend along a plug axis 241 centered with port 116. Body 248 tapers in diameter as it extends away from head 246 and toward or into port 116, and to the mounting mechanism in head portion 206 or further into port 116 (not shown). Plug 240 is mounted adjacent port 116 and is biased away from port 116 by a spring 214 or another resilient member. Plug 240 is mounted independently of piston 130. Plug 240 is configured to reciprocate with piston 130 when piston 130 is adjacent port 116 and presses against plug 240. The movement of plug 240 with respect to port 116 is parallel, or non-parallel, to axis 81 and is the same or similar to the movement described above for plugs 150. A variable volume chamber 175 is formed between piston 130, sidewall 204, and head portion 206. Chamber 175 is in fluid communication with port 116, dependent on the position of plug 240. As described above regarding area 184 in
Housing 202 includes a side wall 204, a head portion 206, and the port 266 extending through side wall 204 along a port axis 267 that is not parallel to axis 81. In
Piston 310 extends along an axis 81 from a proximal end 312 (proximal relative to the location where bonnet 60 and valve body 50 would be attached) to a distal end 313 and includes a side wall comprising two portions. A lower, cylindrical sidewall portion 314 starts at end 312, and an upper, frustoconical sidewall portion 315 extends from portion 314 to distal end 313. Cylindrical portion 314 slidingly engages housing sidewall 204 along with an embedded seal 136. Piston 310 is disposed within housing 202 and configured for reciprocation along axis 81. Piston 310 is coupled to a valve stem 80 located opposite head portion 206 of housing 202. A variable volume chamber 175 is formed between piston 310, sidewall 204, and head portion 206. Chamber 175 is in fluid communication with port 266 through an inner flow area 268 extending generally perpendicular to port axis 267, adjacent the inner surface of sidewall 204. The extent of fluid communication between chamber 175 and port 266 depends on the position of piston 310. While piston 310 moves upward, toward head portion 206, frustoconical portion 315 reduces a flow area through which fluid from chamber 175 passes to reach port 266. The reducing of flow area eventually reduces the volumetric flow rate of control fluid exiting chamber 175 through port 266. The gradual blockage of port 266 and decline in volumetric flow rate slows the upward movement of piston 310. In at least some embodiments, cylindrical portion 314 blocks some portion of port flow area 268 as piston 310 travels toward head portion 206. When piston 310 comes to a stop adjacent head portion 206, frustoconical portion 315 faces at least a portion of flow area 268 so that the recess allows fluid communication between chamber 175 and port 266, and fluid communication is not entirely blocked. Even while piston 310 is at its top-dead-center location, this state of continued fluid communication exists between chamber 175 and port 266 due to the tapered side of frustoconical portion 315. This state of continued fluid communication at top-dead-center facilitates the reentry of working fluid into chamber 175 when an operator or a machine controller decides to push piston 310 down.
Housing 332 includes a side wall 204, a head portion 336, and the port 116 extending through head portion 336, and a pocket structure or pocket 338 extending upward from portion 336. Pocket 338 includes an inlet port 339 at proximal end and port 339 has a selected port diameter. Piston 130 is disposed within housing 332 and configured for reciprocation. A valve stem 80 is coupled to the proximal end 132 of piston 130 as previously described regarding valve 45 and actuator 100. The second stem 340 is coupled to the distal end 133 of piston 130 and is aligned to reciprocate into and out from pocket 338. Stem 340 includes a lower portion 342 extending from piston 130, a tapered, central portion 344, extending from portion 342, and an upper portion 346 extending from central portion 344.
A variable volume chamber 175 is formed between piston 130, sidewall 204, and head portion 336. Chamber 175 is in fluid communication with port 116 and port 339 to provide or remove working fluid. A second chamber 350 extends within pocket 338. Chamber 350 and chamber 175 are in fluid communication through port 339, which includes a flow area 352 that extends across port 339. In this exemplary embodiment, area 352 is flush with the inner surface of head portion 336. The volume of chamber 350 varies depending on the amount of stem 340 that is positioned within pocket 338 as piston 130 reciprocates. As best shown in
Examples of various embodiments have been expressly presented. Multiple additional variations and uses are possible in accordance with principles described herein. Additional embodiments may share compatible characteristics of one or more of the previously-described embodiments or those described below.
Although the various plugs 150, 240 were described as being configured to close fully an exit port 116 and to stop the fluid communication between a chamber and port 116, in some embodiments, a portion of a flow area continues to provide fluid communication between a chamber and port 116 even after the selected plug is fully seated against port 116. The flow areas selected for discussion of the various embodiments are representative of many different flow areas that could be analyzed with similar conclusions. While the embodiments of
While exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or teachings herein. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations, combinations, and modifications of the systems, apparatuses, components, and processes described herein are possible and are within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims that follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims.
Hoang, Loc G., Maciejko, Margaret Anne
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Sep 05 2019 | Cameron International Corporation | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
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Sep 10 2019 | MACIEJKO, MARGARET ANNE | Cameron International Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 050656 | /0869 |
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